ECZenith Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Finally got a chance to see my home away from home once again: southern California. It wasn't the best week to go weather-wise but my friends from work Eric, Derek and myself were able to see most of what SoCal has to offer. I had no idea they were so far along in construction already on Sierra Sidewinder! Tomorrow's update will be from the Disneyland Resort, thanks for reading! Me with the Ghosrider hot rod in front of Coasters Wooooo, nice Chevy! MonteZOOMa's Revenge coming in fast Apparently, the ride op thought it would be funny to damn near drown us with the fountains on Riptide Perilous Plunge was closed, as well as the log flume... sucks because while it was too cold to get wet, both rides are worth the soaking. Random Koi near Bigfoot Rapids Always fun: The Calico Mine Ride, one of my favorite dark rides. Boomerang, which managed to make the non-enthusiasts in our group a little sick. Eric and Derek posing in front of BFR A bit too cold to ride Bigfoot Rapids today... Supreme Scream, one good thing about today was that the lines were almost none-existant. Silver Bullet's cobra roll stands out ALOT over the entrance to the park. The awesome helix finale Flat spin Zero-G roll My favorite part of Silver Bullet. Silver Bullet's vertical loop. Hey! A roller coaster that's opened! Ride it quick! Oh well... at least there's Ghostrider. Oh wait, it's closed as well. So that's the two major rides in the park closed. Nice. I had only been to Knott's once before and had a great time... this however, was not such a good time... Xcelerator: Closed Our very first encounter with the Pacific Ocean, a little cold but it had to be done. Seeing how Knott's only takes a couple of hours to plow through, we decided to tan our poor, pale, New England skin with some Huntington Beach sunshine. The first thing you see upon arrival to LAX is this... um... thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Wait....so WHY were 4 major rides in the park closed!?!? That's just so "typical Knott's" of lately. Seriously, I don't think I've had a good visit in the park since about 2001 or 2002. --Robb "Who used to visit Knott's about twice a month, and now I barely go once a year..." Alvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RollerC Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Knotts looks like an OK place...dosen't seem like it has anything special except for Xcel. Nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECZenith Posted March 30, 2007 Author Share Posted March 30, 2007 Ohhh, and here's the kick in the ass... Ghostirder and PP weren't even listed as closed outside the park gates, and they still wouldn't refund our ticket. We were done with the park in about an hour and a half. Oh well, hopefully they have their $4!t straightened out by summertime when I go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 ^ Don't get your hopes up! I mean, I know people who didn't grow up with the place can still have a good time there, and I respect that, but Knott's USED to be the park that was almost like the Knoebel's of the West in the sense that it was completely "no hassle." Those days were gone by about 2001 - 2002. I could go into more details, but then I'd just be frustrating myself. I just simply choose not to go there anymore so I don't have those frustrations. --Robb "Last time I was there they were running Silver Bullet with one train on a Saturday during Christmas break." Alvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComplexAudio99 Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Yeah, I'm surprised too how the park has sunk down to, dare I say it, Six Flags level! Unfortunately the park is spending money on new coasters, instead of fixing the reliability of others. Oh well, at least there will be a new coaster this year. I'm glad to see you didn't let the closed rides get you down. I remember last time I went, it was scorching hot, and for whatever reason they didn't open Perilous Plunge. Well, as me and my sister walked over to ride Xcelerator at night, we walked by Perilous Plunge. Leave it to Knotts to open up the ride, at night! Of coarse people won't want to ride it at night, it would be freezing outside if wet! Well, my random rant is over, and nice trip report. Its definately a good park to visit, when all the rides are open... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top Thrill Dragster Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Sorry for the bad trip to Knotts. It is unacceptable for PP and Ghostrider being down especially since they both just came out of rehab. Now as for the log ride, something major and unexpected has happened and the ride will be down for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Yea, knott's just gets worse every year. I don't think I will be renewing my pass this year once it expires in July. I think for now on I will stick to my Disney pass, especially seeing as how with John Lassetter leading the imagineers with the development of DLR, the future only looks bright for the Anahiem property, assuming that they fix thier large turn over rates, that is. Otherwise I can see Disney falling into the same category of parks as knotts which could ultimately destroy the park's appeal. But yea, knotts is so mediocre now, if even that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopThrill182 Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Wow. I remember visiting Knott's in the spring of 2005 vividly. I thought it was a great park with nice operations. Not a single ride was closed which differs from other parks in the Spring. Are ride closures the main problem with the place now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top Thrill Dragster Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 ^ No, its just at this time of the year ride are coming out and going into rehab, causing a lot of ride to be closed at once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J man Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Wow. I remember visiting Knott's in the spring of 2005 vividly. I thought it was a great park with nice operations. Not a single ride was closed which differs from other parks in the Spring. Are ride closures the main problem with the place now? I went to Knott's in the summer of 05. Like said before the park was great. I may be wrong, but it seemed like all the rides were running at full capacity. I remember the silver bullet ride ops saying to everyone in line that they had dispatched 16 trains in the last half hour. Needless to say the line was short. It seemed like a very good park. Now that was my first and only visit so far. And if things keep going downhill like they are I doubt I will go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cheat Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Im so glad that Ghostrider is down for rehab. Last time I rode it was worse than Psyclone EVER was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECZenith Posted March 30, 2007 Author Share Posted March 30, 2007 And now... time for part 2: The Disneyland Resort. This report will cover Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, the resort hotels, and a little bit of my beloved Downtown Disney, which is where I spent much of my time on this California trip. Ahhhh!! Thanks for reading, next update will be Hollywood and Santa Monica. Ooooooo! View of the fireworks from our hotel. Once again, I prefer the non-rockin' version but I liked the modifications for Rockin. Space Mountain's trains. Halfway through the 90 minute queue... We mosied on over to Tomorrowland Indiana Jones EMV Ooooo, tropicalness. Balls... a 100 minute wait for Indy... time for goofy pictures of the homies. We "hopped" on over to the very busy Disneyland for a few rides. Cali Screamin' from the Malibu Suite at the Paradise Pier. It was being cleaned out and I had permission to be in here. I mean, the housekeeper didn't speak English but gestured that it was OK. Sexy yellow train. Rockin' out in Paradise Pier, I like the original track better. We grabbed a fastpass for a second ride and trooped out the 80 minute wait. California Screamin! The amazing Paradise Pier, home to my #3 coaster. Also, fear the massive orange. Here it is again. Fear it. I love my ToT. The furnace... of horror! Is DCA Tower Of Terror better than Disney Studios Tower Of Terror? No. Is DCA Tower Of Terror worth a 20 minute wait? Yes. It was just a little crowded today... Sploooosh! The drop with Grizzly Peak standing high above. Grizzly River Run's lift hill has a cool water wheel thingy... Veddddy niiiice, Grizzly Peak... I don't know why so many people hate on this park, I love DCA. This "train" is actually an ice cream shoppe. Didn't see this show... cool building though. Me and the homies bought a one day 2 park hopper and were stupid enough to go on a Saturday... An aerial shot of California Adventure, which I feel is a very under-rated park. Disneyland as seen from The Concierge Lounge. The large green building is my favorite ride at DL: The Indiana Jones Adventure. Closeby the Disneyland Hotel is an area filled with waterfalls and decorative pools. I loved just hanging out here. Another view of this sexy beast. The purple-striped monorail train heads into Disneyland from DTD. Adjacent to the Rainforest Cafe is the Downtown Disney monorail station. I also ate here at the Rainforest Cafe one night but the guys decided to do ESPN Zone again... for a third time. The food at ESPN Zone is amazing! Not too badly priced either! Lotsa fun at this particular pool. The Paradise Pier hotel offers incredible views of DCA. The lifeguards were really cool about letting us swim here even though we were staying down the street. The inside of this hotel is just incredible... lot's of places to just chill... and fireplaces to boot! An aerial view of the Grand Californian Hotel, which I liked the best out of them all. Disneyland Hotel's Peter Pan themed swimming pool. Looks like fun for the kids... The Disneyland Hotel, the only hotel on the property that I didn't get to go inside and check out. Oh, hi! Let's take a walk Downtown... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savemagicmountain Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Nice TR Knott’s has definitely downgrade in the past half decade. You really did not miss out on much at Ghostrider. It is just one big headache now a day. It’s funny because I rode it the weak after they refurbished it and it felt no better then before. I live in Huntington Beach and it was a surprise to see someone post a tr with pictures of it. Keep the good pics coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECZenith Posted March 30, 2007 Author Share Posted March 30, 2007 So this day isn't terribly excting theme-park wise, but ended up being my favorite day of the trip. Ok, if you've never been to PoFolks in Beuna Park, the food is outstanding! Here's me Derek and Eric with my good friends from Corona: Tim, Veronica, Jess, and Rob. Up next will be SFMM and lots of Tatsuness. The entrance to Pacific Park, I'll be sure to come back here in the summer, hopefully to get my coaster credit and not die in the freezing ocean. Westcoaster was down... Santa Monica pier... very dissapointed that only a couple rides were opened. It was a cloudy day, but I still like this picture. If you've never been to Santa Monica before, they have this really cool rolly thing that when pulled by a tractor, maps out LA in the sand. Pretty interesting. Zeee Chinese Theater Today... we ride... LIKE SPARTANS!!! Driving down Hollywood Blvd for the very first time, wasn't all that impressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECZenith Posted March 30, 2007 Author Share Posted March 30, 2007 First of all, wow Six Flags, I had a great time despite some coasters being closed. Everything just seemed a little bit nicer compared to last year. Coasters that were closed are as follows... Deja Vu Ninja Collossus (left) Superman (right) I leave you with a drop shot of the awesome Goliath. I hope you enjoyed my TR. Sexy Giovanola train Goliath as seen from X Riddle me this in a spin that is flat. Riddle me that... Riddle me this... Wooo, about the only ride you'll get a POV on from me. Gotta do Goldrusher, kept my shirt on for the helix tho... Why I like this ride, I don't know... Got my left side credit! The egg turn of joy. This ride never ceases to amaze me. Go Tatsu go! The park was dead and my baby was a walkon! First ride of the day was X, waited half an hour as they were only running one train. Poor bastard... Mandatory SFMM Entry shot... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrowfanman Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 ^ I did! Great PTR Sean! Sorry Knott's sucked so much Yeti-balls! And I wished the DLR wasn't so crowded, but it seems for the most part, you were able to enjoy yourself. Thanks for posting! -Jahan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xtreme-me Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 I think you are all being extremely overly critical of Knotts. Yes they do have lots of rides closed but it is to be expected. Rides like Xcelerator and Ghostrider need to be closed because they have a really busy summer ahead of them. I mean, come on, its the off season. If Knotts was in say, New York where it was cold and wet you would all be saying "oh its just the off season. rides can't really be Expected to have all of its rides open all the time." I think they do a wonderful job at their park and they shouldn't be critizised for it at all. Come to think of it, Ive had some amazing experiences in the past at Knotts and the closure of these rides is neccissary. People complain and complain that Ghostrider is "too rough" (which doesnt exist for Ghostrider in my opinion) and in order to make changes to the ride, it needs to be closed. Other than that, Glad you had a good time at the other parks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savemagicmountain Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 I would have to disagree with your comment completely. It is not off-season it is the start of spring break which equals many dollars. I don't know how you can say that it is not rough but it is your own opinion. I don't know how much a break for ghost rider would actually due since I rode it the weak after refurb and it felt just the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy4Coasters! Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 Well I just came from Knott's Berry Farm today and I had a really nice time. No big crowds and the only attractions closed were P.P. and Log Fume. I've read the previous comments on this post and I have to say that Knott's is still a valid theme park to enjoy but sadly I have to admit it is a "hit or miss" theme park... and by that I mean you never know if their main attractions will be up and ready to go any given day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECZenith Posted April 2, 2007 Author Share Posted April 2, 2007 Thank you all for the comments. Let it be known that I am in no way a "Knotts hater", just wish Ghostrider would have been open on one of the three times I have been in 2 years. Right now I'm most excited about Sierra Sidewinder, believe it or not Euro Mir is one of the rides I've wanted to try out for years now, and this will hopefully be the next best thing. Thanks again for reading! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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